TheFork, a global online restaurant booking and review platform, will close its operations in Australia at the end of March.
Announcing the decision on its website, the company explained that the choice to discontinue its Australian operations had been made after “careful consideration.”
The company blamed the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for its imperative to explore cost-cutting measures.
“We understand that this decision may come as a surprise, and we want to assure you that this was not a choice made lightly.”
“Due to the significant impact the pandemic had on the global economy, particularly the hospitality industry, we therefore had to implement certain cost measures, which includes a reduction of TheFork’s geographical footprint.”
Booking and Gift Card Policies at TheFork:
From March 31, the company’s local website and app will no longer be accessible, and customers were advised to redeem their Yums – points accumulated through its loyalty program – by this date.
“Once this date passes, any unused points will automatically expire and will become inaccessible.”
TheFork will accept restaurant bookings in Australia until its closure on March 31, and its gift cards will retain their validity for three years from the date of purchase.
Operating in 12 countries globally, including the UK, France, and Spain, TheFork’s website highlights a membership of over 55,000 restaurants.
Established in Australia in 2009, the business initially known as Dimmi was launched by local tech entrepreneur Stevan Premutico.
In 2015, TripAdvisor, the global review and booking platform giant, acquired Dimmi, leading to its rebranding as The Fork in 2019.
Following the sale of the business to TripAdvisor, Mr. Premutico proceeded to introduce the QR code restaurant ordering app, me&u.
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